ROXY BOURDILLON VISITS ATLANTA PRIDE AND DISCOVERS AN LGBT PARADISE WITH SOUTHERN CHARM

Pride weekend

Atlanta Pride main stage

Roxy on the Delta float

dyke march sign and crowds

Roxy with Tonie

and Lorraine

“Since the dawn of time, man has dreamed of air travel, and so we embark upon our voyage aboard this silver bird of flight.” I’ve never heard a captain’s message quite like it. His voice is so rich and fruity, he could be the lovechild of Ian McKellen and Brian Blessed. “Perhaps the most important member of the crew is your flight manager. Believe me, he has earned his silver wings. Now, sit back and enjoy the miracle of flight.” Everyone bursts into applause, while I silently pray this guy knows how to steer this thing and he’s not just an out-of-work actor craving a captive audience.

We land safely in Atlanta (turns out he was a real pilot, after all) and I’m feeling pumped. America’s Deep South may be historically known for segregation and old-fashioned (read: prejudiced) values, but Atlanta embraces diversity, so much so it’s been dubbed the New York of the South. The birthplace of Martin Luther King, it’s vibrant and eclectic with a thoroughly modern mindset. I can’t wait to experience Pride, Atlanta style.

Putting my jet lag to one side, I make my way to the official Pride kick-off party at The Aquarium (georgiaaquarium. org) and discover that this isn’t, as I first thought, a nightclub with a fun name. It’s an actual aquarium. The largest in the world, to be precise. So there I am, sipping my cocktail and mingling with Atlanta’s queer glitterati, as sharks – ACTUAL SHARKS – swim past my face. I breathe deeply, trying to concentrate on making small talk and not being too distracted by the humungous whale – WHALE – that’s just appeared in front of me. It’s true what they say; everything’s bigger in America. Especially Pride parties.